Cyprus In Transition

January 20, 2005

Propping Up Talat

With the EU Commision failing to deliver on aid promised to the north and with elections only a matter of weeks away this article suggests a direct attempt by the Commission to offer Talat a helping hand:

In an apparent bid to back the pro-European forces among the Turkish Cypriot community, ahead of the upcoming election procedure in the north, the EU Commission has suggested it might be willing to make changes to its package for the Turkish Cypriots.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told MEPs during a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee that he would consider a change to the legal basis for a regulation on direct trade.

He also said the Commission could issue a statement on the headquarters of the Reconstruction Agency that would be handling 259 million euros spearheaded for the Turkish Cypriots. Sources said the agency would be based in the government-controlled areas, as Nicosia has sought.

The EU executive is trying to convince the Cyprus government to agree on a package of regulations after the failure of last April’s referendum for a settlement on the island.